Chapter Four, What About Justice? Summary and Analysis

Many people condemn the truth and reconciliation process (TRC) as immoral. The process asks the victims to give up the pursuit of retribution and justice for their families. Tutu disagrees.

The Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act specify that anyone who commits a politically motivated crime between 1960 and 1994 can be granted amnesty after a full disclosure of relevant facts proportionate to the crime. Victims can support amnesty but remorse is not required. Most of the trials occur under television lights and public humiliation does ensure. Many families hear about the crimes of their family members for the first time. Marriages sometimes end abruptly.

Tutu reproduces the story of a young woman who dated a policeman who was participating in serious crimes as a member of a special unit task force. She is...